Premier League target Duvan Zapata may have already ruled out a summer move to Everton or West Ham United while committing himself to Atalanta, in conversation with Gazzetta dello Sport.
With Gian Piero Gasperini’s side in transition – forcing out the old to make room for the new – it almost felt as if Zapata was destined to go the same way as Papu Gomez, Remo Freuler and co. The long-serving Colombian has lost his status as Atalanta’s number one striker; Rasmus Hojlund and Ademola Lookman now ahead of him in Gasperini’s pecking order.
The Mirror (26 February, page 74) believe that £10 million may be enough to secure his signature; his contract running down. Everton, West Ham and Nottingham Forest are among Zapata’s admirers.
But, as the man himself says, this is not the first time some have painted an exit as inevitable. And here he still is.
Everton, West Ham and Nottingham Forest like Duvan Zapata
“Ever since I’ve been at Atalanta, every time the window opens they (the media) have given me to another team,” Zapata retorts. “Even when I didn’t know anything about it!
“Here, I feel great. I would feel even better if I can find some continuity.”
Despite the form of Hojlund and Lookman, Zapata remains a key cog in Gasperini’s machine. He’s started 11 games in all competitions. Zapata may have featured more frequently if he had not been consigned to the sidelines for much of the current campaign with a niggling hamstring problem.
According to Zapata’s agent, meanwhile, a new deal in Bergamo is not out of the question either.
“Duvan has a contract that expires in 2024. There is a renewal option for the following season,” says Fernando Schena, albeit without totally ruling out a change of scenery.
“A summer transfer? We’ll see if an offer suitable for both the player and Atalanta arrives. In which case, we will evaluate it. We will see in due course.”
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